WHEN THE WORLD CATCHES FIRE

BEGINNING OF THE END

Kitsune is a rare secretive race of fox people. Kitsune stops aging after reaching adulthood at the age of 25 and is known to live thousands of years. The race was nearly wiped out thousands of years ago due to the myths involving their tails. It is rumored that if you take the tails of the Kitsune you can use the magic for yourself. Because of the rumors and massacres, Kitsune were forced into hiding. The village of Iiōwa is one of very few left still hidden away. Kitsune kits raised here are all warned and taught about how cruel the outside world is to them and for many years they all were very cautious. One kit in particular though was always known to cause trouble and sneak away to nearby villages.

Reyna Ijiro and her older sister Akane were always up to something, although Akane was always the level-headed one and Reyna always wanted to push the boundaries as far as she could. Reyna was often caught either sneaking off or returning from the nearby villages. Her father always chastised her for leaving and warned her of the danger, but it never seemed to faze her, instead, it always fueled her curiosity. As her habit of sneaking off became more prevalent, the village became more relaxed with her coming and going. Seeing as her ability to return never caused trouble or put anyone in danger.

On slow troublesome days, you'd find Reyna racing through the forest, changing between flaming red fur and hair, to greet the village of Saiiba. A bustling village filled with all kinds of races and at the center of it all, you could catch Reyna playing with the children. Her favorite pastime was always playing with the children in her fox form, which was usually a dangerous feat for older Kitsune with more than one tail, but not for young kits much like Reyna.

You'd find her playing hide and seek and nipping at the ankles of the children as they all roared with contagious laughter. Reyna played the role of a fox pup so well that no one ever suspected she could be something more. Humans would stop to brush her bright red fur and scratch just under her chin and sometimes Reyna would even give a small leg kick to really sell the disguise.

She would race through the village and steal ingots from the local dwarves. Racing around the town square in fits of laughter, as the dwarves took chase. At times she would stop and place the ingots in the pockets of the homeless and return to the scene of the crime with a look of mischief painted across her fox face. The dwarves would always huff and shoo her off and she'd run away in laughter.

Elves, usually pompous by nature, had recently taken a liking to the small fox. Trading small gems and trinkets for her to run off and collect various objects for them. Usually, it entailed gathering different herbs and scrolls for potions. It was one half-elf in particular, an older fellow with wrinkles and age spread across his features, that had started leaving bowls of food out for her, his home was nice and cozy. On rainy days you could find her lying beside the hearth of his home. He would usually sit in his rocking chair, reading scrolls, and every few moments would lean down to give her a gentle scratch behind the ears.

And before dusk, you'd see the young kit saying goodbye to her found friends before racing back through the forest towards home. With enough distance between her and the village of Saiiba, she'd change between her half-form and fox form. Wind nipping at her cheeks and flowing through her fur. It was in those moments, that Reyna truly felt free. Not chained down by the expectations of her family or the stress of remaining in her fox form within the village. Changing between forms always felt effortless and was the only time when the young kit felt whole.